Preparations underway for return of displaced to Pool region

The government of the Republic of Congo (RoC) and humanitarian agencies have agreed on plans for the return of displaced people to the war-torn Pool region, Emilienne Raoul, the Minister for Social Affairs, told IRIN on Monday. Raoul, speaking at a planning meeting in the capital, said the government would provide transport, namely vehicles and trains. She said those returning home should be assured of their "security and dignity." Sory Ouane, interim coordinator of the UN agencies in RoC, said the UN agencies would provide food and non-food items, including seeds and vaccines, as well as services such as youth training to assist in the reconstruction of the region. The Pool region witnessed the highest number of displacements caused by the cycle of fighting between government forces and "Ninja" rebels, led by the Rev Frederic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi. More than 77,000 displaced from Pool have been registered in other regions, including some 12,000 in Brazzaville. Thousands more have been displaced within the Pool region. Humanitarian agencies at the meeting agreed that a rapid response was necessary, in view of deteriorating living conditions in sites housing the displaced. The government and rebels signed an agreement on 17 March to bring peace to the region, where hostilities erupted in late March 2002.